Method in my madness, taming my mind.

Although I have the main idea and story-arcs of Whispering Shadows I still have to find a way to get there. If I were to describe the way I write it is very much an adventure for me as much as those that eventually get to read the finished product. I take a lot of time to plan out the so called big events, the things that drive the story and become the crux of events. I develop them to a level I feel satisfied justifies the whole story and from there I then go a little freely into the story.

As in Whispering Shadows I know the three main events that feature as the main story. These are themselves integral to the continuing story-arc from Footprints but also independent enough to ensure this does not feel like a familiar journey already travelled.

Only today on Chapter 6 of Part 1 “Conspiracy” have I actually arrived at the main event of this part. Even then I have only literally set the scene of hat is to become the biggest event of the whole story. The essence of what is to happen will have repercussions for all characters, old and new but getting here has been a day by day event.

Each time I write I sort of know what the chapter needs to do. It is a balance to neither rush the story along and keep events in singular chapters but also not drag out unnecessarily and break the motion of the story. Within the scene setting I need to introduce the new characters and set them within the story already set by Footprints. These new characters need to be solid enough to carry the weight of being thrown in but in the same vein I cannot spend too much time and risk breaking the flow.

So today I sat down knowing I would be building up to the big event, I had hoped to finish the chapter on a cliffhanger and leave the event hanging in the air. 1758 words later and the event is still building but it felt right to writ the chapter as I have as it adds so much more to one main character and one secondary character. I could not risk under developing them to simply rush a plot point.

And so you see I had one plan and ultimately allowing myself to write the chapter freely I did more than I had hoped and less than I had planned. So in lies the contradiction of writing. I have my book of ideas but that’s all they are. They represent a collection of ideas with no formal structure. I can flip through the pages and pull from them what I need but I cannot plan a chapter in advance. That is too constrictive and restrictive for me and results in a story that doesn’t flow naturally for me.

I’m not saying what I do is right, it simply works for me and helps me create a story as I go. By being free in my style it makes me enjoy the whole process a lot more and feel that I develop along with the story. Ideas come to me randomly and I play them out in my head. Although there’s nothing more disconcerting than when I’m in the gym and partway through a set I decide I want to play out an idea. It’s not particularly safe with dumbbells teetering above your head mid-press and your mind wanders! For once I can say thankfully I can on those occasions multi-task, almost.

Looking back at the idea of publishing Footprints I held the file so long on my cloud account that I had decided not to do anything with it. Inspiration comes from unlikely sources but when you look at the sort of people I admire  (one being in the background of my chapter photograph above – Arnold Schwarzenegger – who shows what foresight, drive and determination can get you) it makes sense that I took that leap. I don’t regret it, yes you feel exposed t the world for criticism and such but there’s also a sense that “I did this” and I did it the way I wanted.

Hopefully though, back to my writing, this style works for me and allows me to write in a way that I enjoy. Ultimately though you are all the judge. I can only do what I do and hope that the end result not only justifies the means but also justifies the time and effort I put into the whole affair.

We shall see as for the moment I can proudly say there is more to come from me!